Water diverter for gutter protection systems

ABSTRACT

A water diverter for gutter protection systems is provided. The Water diverter is positioned on the structure side of any curved surface of the gutter protection system. The water diverter acts to slow the speed of the water running off the roof and over the gutter protection system. This slowing of the water speed allows the Coanda Effect of the curved surface of the gutter protector to function to direct the water into the water collecting opening of the gutter. When the water is traveling too fast (e.g., running from a steep roof, or a roof valley), the surface tension of the water generated by the Coanda Effect on the curved surface of the gutter protector is insufficient to direct the running water into the water collecting opening of the gutter.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/490,756, entitled, “Water Diverter for Gutter Protector Systems”, filed on Jul. 29, 2003, which is commonly owned, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to gutter protection systems, and more particularly, to a water diverter system for gutter protection systems.

2. Description of Related Art

Various Gutter protection systems exist whereby a cover, screen or other curved (Coanda Effect) system is used to protect the water collecting portion of a gutter and prevent debris from clogging the same. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,660,001, 5,557,891 and many others.

One common drawback or limitation to all existing gutter protection systems is their effectiveness with steep pitched roofs and/or handling the amount of water generated at roof valleys.

When a roof has a steep pitch, the water run off speed is greater than a lesser pitched roof due to the increased acceleration due to gravity. The aforementioned gutter systems rely on the fluid surface tension and/or the Coanda Effect generated by water running over a curved surface. These physical phenomena are directly related to the speed at which the water passes over the particular surface. As such, water running at increased speeds off a steep pitched roof is less likely to adhere to the surface of a gutter protection system to perform its intended function of directing the water into the gutter without the debris.

There is a need for an improved gutter protection system that takes into consideration the water run off speed due to steep roof pitch and/or the volume of water generated by roof valleys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a gutter protection system that is fully functional at any roof pitch and/or with any combination of roof valleys and increased water run off speed.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the water diverter for gutter protection systems includes at least one water diverter disposed on the surface of the gutter protector to interrupt the water flow over the same.

According to one aspect of the invention, the gutter protection system includes a a gutter protector positioned over a water colleting opening of a gutter, and at least one water diverter disposed on the gutter protector and adapted to interrupt the flow of water over the protector to facilitate the water draining into the water collecting opening in accordance with the gutter protector.

According to another aspect of the invention, the gutter protection system includes at least one hole in said gutter protector and positioned on a structure side of the water diverter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the views:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the water diverter for gutter protection systems according to an aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the water diverter for gutter protection systems according to another aspect of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the water diverter according to another aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a gutter 10 fastened to a facia panel with a fastener 14. A gutter protection system or gutter protector 20 a is positioned over the water collecting area of the gutter 10 to prevent debris from clogging and/or effecting the operation of the gutter. Examples of the gutter protection systems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,660,001, 5,557,891, which are incorporated herein by reference.

The upper edge 26 of protector 20 a is fit between the roof 16 a and roof shingle 18. During operation, the water runs off the roof shingles 18 onto the gutter protector 20 a which carries the water to openings 28. The surface of gutter protector 20 a uses water tension and Coanda effect principles to direct the water flow to the openings 28.

When the pitch of the roof 18 is steep, the speed at which the water runs off the roof 18 is significantly increased. As such, the water tension and Coanda effect principles on which the gutter protector 20 a operates no longer have an effect on the water due to its increased speed. As such, the gutter protector 20 a fails, and the water runs off the roof and over the gutter protector and off the house. Roofs 16 b, 16 c and 16 d show some examples of the various roof pitches.

The gutter protector 20 a may include an angle adjustment portion 21, which allows the gutter protector to be use with roofs of varying pitch. In addition, the curved surface of the angle adjustment portion 21 can be used to facilitate flowing of water into the openings 28 by providing another curved surface to utilize the water tension/Coanda effect of the water traveling over the same.

In order to slow the water down and allow the gutter protection system 20 a to function properly in the presence of increased water run off speed, one or more water diverters 22 a, 22 b are added to the surface of the gutter protector 20 a. Water diverters 22 a, 22 b are disposed in the water path on the structure side of the openings 28, and serve to interrupt the water flow over the gutter protector and slow down any water traveling at speeds too fast for proper gutter protector operation.

In another embodiment, the water diverters 22 a, 22 b include additional holes 24 a, 24 b on the structure side of the respective diverter. In this manner, water slowed down by the diverter can be disposed directly into the gutter opening via holes 24 rather then continuing to the openings 28 in the front of the protector 20 a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, more than one diverter 22 can be used depending on the particular application and the pitches of the roofs involved. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, diverters 22 can be added to the protector 20 a on the structure side of the angle adjustment 21. This embodiment is envisioned when the roof pitch is so steep that more than one diverter 22 is needed for the gutter protector 20 a.

Referring to FIG. 3, the high volume of water generated by roof valleys (where two or more roofs come together) also causes a failure of the gutter protector 20 a. The water flow in a valley is much higher and is usually at increased speed due to the increased amount of water. FIG. 3 shows a valley 40 where two roofs come together and run off into the gutter. The run off point 42 is where the valley meets the gutter and is generally a very high speed point where the water runs off the roof. As such, it is important to slow the water before it makes it over the edge of the gutter. It has been attempted to slow the water by placing a diverter on the roof at the valley point 42, but this diverters are not aesthetically appropriate in most roof applications and result in water splashing off the roof.

As shown in FIG. 3, water diverters 22 a and 22 b are positioned at the mitre of the gutter protectors to accommodate the right angle of the same. In this manner, water running off the valley point 42 will hit the first diverter 22 b and if that is not sufficient to stop the fast traveling water, the second row of diverters 22 a will function to further slow the water and enable the gutter protection system to operate in its intended way.

FIG. 2 shows another gutter protection system 20 that is simply a curved piece of metal having an upper part 32 that is positioned between the roof 16 and the shingles 18, and a lower front end that is attached to the front of the gutter 10 such that the curved surface 30 runs into the water collecting opening 11 of the gutter. This gutter protector is marketed under the Trademark GUTTER HELMET® and also suffers from the same drawback as the previously described gutter protector in that it cannot handle water running off the roof at speeds too fast to allow the physical properties on which the gutter protector is designed (i.e., water tension and Coanda effect) to operate properly. As such, water diverters 22 a and 22 b are added to the surface to interrupt the water flow and effectively slow fast moving water sufficiently to allow the gutter protector to operate as intended.

As shown, the water diverters 22 a and 22 b can include holes 24 a and 24 b on the structure side of the respective diverter to help facilitate the water slowing and the draining of water into the water collecting area 11 of the gutter 10.

While there has been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

1. A gutter protection system comprising: a gutter protector positioned over a water colleting opening of a gutter; at least one water breaker/diverter disposed on the gutter protector/cover and adapted to interrupt the flow of water over the protector/cover to facilitate the water draining into the water collecting opening in accordance with the gutter protector/cover.
 2. The gutter protection system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one hole in said gutter protector and positioned on a structure side of the water diverter.
 3. The gutter protection system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one water breaker/diverter is positioned on the structure side of a curved surface of said gutter protection system, wherein the positioning of the at least one water breaker/diverter on the structure side of the curved surface facilitates the Coanda Effect of said curved surface by slowing the speed of water passing over said gutter protector. 